Football legend and keen rugby league fan Francis Lee wants to see Salford City Reds taken over and transformed so they can again challenge the likes of Wigan, Warrington and Saints.

Football legend and keen rugby league fan Francis Lee wants to see Salford City Reds taken over and transformed so they can again challenge the likes of Wigan, Warrington and Saints.

Lee, like many sporting celebrities in Manchester right now, is waiting with interest to see what the future holds for the Salford club with new investment imminent and likely to happen later this week.

Lee is hoping Salford can prosper in the years ahead and believes they can rise up.

The former City and England striker fondly remembers the 1970s when Salford shared soccer’s spotlight by ruling the rugby roost and being crowned champions.

He yearns for a return to the glory days.

Francis told MEN Sport: “Back in the 70s, United and City were fighting it out for the title and Salford had a top team of their own full of star players.

“To see this repeated again would be fantastic for this great region.

“Lancashire were also the top dogs in the cricket world – it was all happening. It could again.

“Salford are now in a brand new ground close to the motorway and, in my view, they have the potential to come good again.

“Any new ground is an asset for any club.

“If you are wanting success, you simply have to attract the best young players and bring in quality. You also need a stable bunch of directors running the club.’’Salford handed crack Super League opener

Having also served as City chairman in the Maine Road era, Lee also knows from first hand experience that takeovers and buyouts within professional sporting circles can be challenging and sometimes messy affairs.

“Whenever anything like this takes place, the supporters of any club must also come first because they provide a lifeline,’’ added Lee.

“Always doing the best simply for them is absolutely vital. It’s a necessity. What must always be remembered is the fact the supporters will still be there backing their clubs in the years ahead.

“They never disappear – they always want to see their clubs doing well.’’

Lee’s enthusiasm for a successful Salford is no doubt echoed within the United camp.

Reds legend Ryan Giggs has recently revealed in Adrian Morley’s autobiography he and his United team-mates including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick follow Super League with interest. “It’s a great spectator sport,’’ added Lee. “The game has its traditional hotbeds where lads are brought up to play the game.’’

Lee himself was brought up in Westhoughton. His dad supported Leigh.

Francis himself follows the game with interest and has total respect for rugby league players.

“I have said many times in the past, rugby league players are among the toughest and bravest professional sportsmen in the world.

“Maybe it would do some of the footballers of today good to watch Super League on Friday nights because it would toughen them up!’’

Lee’s wish for a successful new-look Salford is shared by former BBC RL commentator Ray French – a dual international himself.

Ray said: “Salford’s new stadium home is superb – it’s terrific, in fact, and everything is geared up towards Salford going forward with the right kind of backing, of course.

“If someone is prepared to put money in and support the club, Salford could quickly become self-sufficient.

“The potential is vast and they need to reach out towards Manchester and Cheshire building a fan base, promoting both the club and the game.

“Our game needs to have a successful Salford team. I really enjoyed watching them in the 1970s – The Willows was the place to be and what they did for the game was like a breath of fresh air.

“We had great Swinton teams pre-war and in the 1960s but the game is in need of a vibrant club to again be in and around the Manchester area – Salford can be the flagship.

“Salford have possibly been victims of their own financial problems and maybe it is now time to move on and become stronger.’’

Steve Nash played scrum-half for Salford’s star-studded team of the 1970s.

He says new investors succeeding John Wilkinson will need deep pockets and bags of ambition.

“Brian Snape, who owned the club back then, was a visionary and a brilliant businessman.

“We had a soccer style mentality of buying and signing any player who did well against us. It worked – they were great times.

“He simply had a vision and went for it. To be part of that was special.

“This approach may be called for again if Salford are to be a force.’’

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